What is it?

Pioglitazone is a generic diabetes drug, a PPAR gamma agonist, also known by the brand name Actos. By helping to lower blood sugar levels, this medication may help treat symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome, including infertility from lack of ovulation.

Why do doctors prescribe this medication?

Doctors normally prescribe this drug to treat type 2 diabetes. However, some fertility doctors may prescribe Pioglitazone HCL to patients who have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The drug may help treat symptoms of PCOS, including lack of ovulation, helping to restore fertility.

How does the drug work?

It helps to reduce insulin resistance by helping smooth muscle to metabolize sugar. Lowering insulin resistance in women with PCOS can also help lower the amount of male hormones in their bodies. The presence of these high levels of male hormones in women can trigger irregular periods and prevent ovulation, leading to infertility, so lowering the amount of male hormones can restore ovulation. Once a woman with PCOS is able to ovulate, the egg can potentially be fertilized to conceive a child.

When and how to take

Your fertility doctor will give you directions on how and when to take the drug. You should take tablets orally, with or without food, at the same time each day. If you miss a dose, skip that dose and do not take a double dose.

Side effects

The more common side effects may include

Weight gain

Muscle pain

Sore throat

Tooth problems

Uou should seek medical attention if these side effects persist or worsen. Seek medical attention if you experience serious side effects of this medicaiton like

Reddish-colored urine

Urgency

Pain while urinating

New or worsening vision problems, such as blurred vision; or bone fracture

Rarely, the drug may cause liver disease, so seek medical attention if you develop liver disease symptoms like

Dark urine

Nausea

Vomiting

Stomach or abdominal pain

Yellowing skin and eyes

Rarely, this medication could cause or worsen congestive heart failure because of a buildup of fluid. This drug may also be associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer or bone fracture.

Pioglitazone does not usually cause hypoglycemia, which is low blood sugar, but the chance of this is higher if you take other diabetic drugs, drink alcohol, exercise heavily, or fail to eat enough regularly.

The symptoms of hypoglycemia include

Dizziness

Shaking

Tingling hands or feet

Fast heartbeat

Blurred vision

Hunger

To help lower your chance of hypoglycemia, eat meals regularly, and if you experience symptoms of low blood sugar, eat or drink something with a high sugar content, such as candy or fruit juice. If you experience hyperglycemia, which is high blood sugar, symptoms could include rapid breathing, flushing, drowsiness, confusion, increased urination, and fruity-smelling breath. Seek medical attention if you experience these symptoms, and your doctor may increase the dose of your medication.

It is rare to have a serious allergic reaction to tablets, but seek medical attention immediately if you experience symptoms of an allergic reaction such as

Rash

Dizziness

Trouble breathing

Itching or swelling of the face, tongue, or throat

These may not be all the possible negative effects.

Precautions

While taking theses tabs, regularly check your blood sugar and take all laboratory tests that your doctor orders to monitor your condition. It may take a while for this medicine to start working, but do not increase your dose unless your doctor tells you to. Keep the drug out of the reach of children. Consult your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding while taking this medication.

Other medications prescribed with it

Some fertility doctors prescribe Pioglitazone along with another fertility drug such as Clomid to stimulate the ovaries to produce eggs. They may also prescribe this medicine along with hormonal injections to induce follicle production. You may use these fertility drugs along with a fertility monitor or ovulation tests to determine the best time to conceive.

How does PCOS affect fertility?

Polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, is a common hormonal disorder with infertility as one of its most common symptoms. In PCOS, women usually have small cysts in their ovaries and produce slightly higher amounts of male hormones, called androgens. The presence of these androgens can interfere with processes in the body that rely on hormones, such as menstruation and ovulation. When ovulation is affected, no egg is released to potentially be fertilized and produce a child, so the woman with PCOS experiences infertility. Treating PCOS with drugs that help to lower blood sugar can help reduce these male hormones, allowing the woman's reproductive system to function and release an egg.

Where to order

The high cost of fertility treatments and fertility drugs can make parenthood seem out of reach for some couples. We can help you make fertility more attainable, helping our readers to order affordable Pioglitazone medication online with free shipping. First talk to your doctor about whether this drug is the best treatment for your PCOS and your best option for fertility. Then, bring your prescription back to us and submit your information online or by phoning our customer service hotline. When you order this drug from us, you can help reduce your symptoms of PCOS, increasing your chance of becoming pregnant.